 |
UNMC’s leadership team shares some laughs at a farm implement shop in northeast Nebraska during the last year’s annual leadership visit. This year the team will visit seven western Nebraska communities during its tour on June 23 and 24. |
This is the fifth time UNMC leaders have visited communities around the state.
“This is one of my favorite trips of the year,” Dr. Maurer said. “It’s a chance to visit with the people of the state and let them know what is happening at UNMC. There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. We always learn a lot when we go on these trips.”
From Lexington, North Platte and Scottsbluff on June 23 to Chadron, Alliance, Sidney and Ogallala on June 24, the group will meet with members of the community at various community receptions hosted by local businesses, colleges and hospitals. They also will visit with various community and business leaders and health professionals.
The purpose of the trip is to thank communities for their support, listen to the health care needs of the community, introduce members of the UNMC leadership team, and let people know UNMC leaders are accessible. Host communities will provide overviews about their communities and UNMC leaders will provide brief updates about the medical center’s progress toward its goal of becoming a world-class academic health sciences center.
|
While in North Platte, UNMC leaders will attend a check presentation ceremony at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in the Ag Activity Center. The $2.1 million gift is a donation from the estate of John Carothers, a local farmer. The donation is specifically designated for cancer and cardiology research. Dr. Maurer, John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean, UNMC College of Medicine and Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Eppley Cancer Center will accept the donation.
UNMC leaders will discuss the completion and grand opening of the new Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education June 26. The Sorrell Center will be the academic home to the College of Medicine and features state-of-the-art technology, clinical skills lab and inter-professional education.
Also addressed will be the recent opening of the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation, the only non-profit provider of comprehensive visual rehabilitation services for children and adults in the region.
Campus expansion plans also will be highlighted, including the current construction of a second research tower; and the future construction of an addition to the College of Nursing building in Omaha, a new geriatric center and building to house the College of Public Health.
Other topics include:
- UNMC’s efforts in addressing cultural disparities in health care;
- Successes in UNMC rural programs including: the Rural Health Opportunities Program, Rural Health Education Network and Area Health Education Centers; and
- The success of the UNMC College of Medicine’s rural medicine program, which was ranked 11th in the country by U.S. News and World Report.
Joining Dr. Maurer on the trip will be: Rubens Pamies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs; Robert Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs; John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean, College of Medicine; John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean, College of Dentistry; Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., dean, College of Pharmacy; Keith Mueller, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs in the UNMC College of Public Health; Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., associate dean, School of Allied Health Professions; Dr. Cowan; and Mike Leibowitz, Ph.D., interim director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute.